Flash memory cell having reduced floating gate to floating gate coupling

ABSTRACT

According to an embodiment of the invention, a flash memory cell includes a first gate stack and a second gate stack having a film deposited across the gap between the first and second gate stacks so that the film creates a void between the first and second gate stacks. Dielectric materials may be used to reduce conductivity between the two stacks. A dielectric material that is resistant to conductivity has a low dielectric constant (k). The lowest-k dielectric material is air, which has a dielectric constant of approximately 1. By creating a void between the two gate stacks, the least conductive material (air) is left filling the space between the gate stacks, and the likelihood of parasitic coupling of two adjacent floating gates is substantially reduced.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to electronic memories, and specifically to a flash memory cell with reduced coupling between floating gates.

BACKGROUND

Flash memory is a type of electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM). An EEPROM is a memory that can be erased by applying a signal across the memory cell array. Flash memory, unlike EEPROM memory, can be erased in discrete blocks. Flash memory is useful as non-volatile memory for computer systems, digital cameras, portable storage, etc. A flash memory array typically includes numerous individual cells that comprise transistors including two gates: a floating gate and a control gate. The control gate of an individual cell can be activated by propagating a signal along the appropriate bit line and word line, which reprograms the cell.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a virtual ground (VG) erasable tunnel oxide (ETOX) flash memory cell array 100. FIG. 1A illustrates an overhead view of the flash memory cell array 100, FIG. 1B illustrates a view along a word line (i.e., the line 101 a) of the flash memory cell array 100, and FIG. 1C illustrates a view across a two word lines of the flash memory cell array (i.e., the line 101 b).

A VG ETOX flash memory cell array has the advantage of requiring a single contact for several cells (as many as 32 or more), rather than the one contact for every two cells required by a standard ETOX flash cell. The VG ETOX flash memory cell array 100 (see FIG. 1A) includes several gate stacks 102 (see FIG. 1C) that each defines an individual memory cell. The gate stacks 102 include two layers of polysilicon 104 and 106 (see FIGS. 1B and 1C) that define a floating gate and a control gate, respectively. In a VG ETOX flash memory cell array, adjacent gate stacks 102 (for example, the gate stacks 102 a and 102 b) are very close together, since there is no contact between the stacks 102. The distance between the gate stacks 102 may be as small as the lithography tools allow (for example, 45 nanometers). The close proximity of two gate stacks 102 a and 102 b can lead to cross-coupling between the gate stacks, and the inadvertent disturbance of adjacent memory cells.

Each gate stack 102 also has a layer of conductive silicide or metal 108 on top of the stack to create a low resistance control gate for the stack. A dielectric film 110 (see FIG. 1C) is typically deposited between two gate stacks 102 a and 102 b to prevent conduction of the region between the gate stacks 102 a and 102 b, thereby preventing shorts between two gate stacks 102 a and 102 b. The film 110 fills the cavity between the gate stacks 102 a and 102 b.

The gate stacks are formed using a multi-step process of growing, depositing, etching, etc., various semiconductor, dielectric, and conductive materials on a substrate 112 (see FIGS. 1B and 1C). The substrate 112 is a silicon substrate including several doped regions 114 (see FIG. 1B) that form source and drain regions. The several layers of the flash memory cell array 100 include a tunnel oxide layer 116, a self-aligned oxide 118 deposited over the doped regions 114, the floating gate comprising the first layer of polysilicon 104, an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer 120, the control gate comprising the second layer of polysilicon 106, and the silicide layer 108 (see FIGS. 1B and 1C). The flash memory cell array 100 further includes several source/drain (S/D) diffusions 122 and word lines 124 (see FIG. 1A).

As the size of flash memory cells is further reduced, the gap between the gate stacks 102 becomes smaller and smaller. A parasitic coupling on one floating gate may reprogram an adjacent floating gate, potentially resulting in data corruption or loss.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a virtual ground (VG) erasable tunnel oxide (ETOX) flash memory cell array;

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a virtual ground (VG) erasable tunnel oxide (ETOX) flash cell array including a void between gate stacks to reduce cross-coupling between the gate stacks according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing a process for forming a flash memory cell array including air gaps between gate stacks;

FIGS. 4A-4K show a memory cell array along a word line, as in FIG. 2B; and

FIGS. 5A-5F show a memory cell array across word lines, as in FIG. 2C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a Flash Memory Cell Having Reduced Floating Gate to Floating Gate Coupling. Note that in this description, references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that the feature being referred to is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Further, separate references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however, such embodiments are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated, and except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments. Thus, the present invention can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a flash memory cell includes a first gate stack and a second gate stack having a film deposited across the gap between the first and second gate stacks so that the film creates a void between the first and second gate stacks. Dielectric materials may be used to reduce conductivity between the two stacks. A dielectric material that is resistant to conductivity has a low dielectric constant (k). The lowest-k dielectric material is air, which has a dielectric constant of approximately 1.By creating a void between the two gate stacks, the least conductive material (air) is left filling the space between the gate stacks, and the likelihood of parasitic coupling of two adjacent floating gates is substantially reduced.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a virtual ground (VG) erasable tunnel oxide (ETOX) flash cell array 200 including a void between gate stacks to reduce cross-coupling between the gate stacks. FIG. 2A is an overhead view of the VG ETOX flash memory cell array 200, FIG. 2B is a view along a word line of the flash memory cell array 200, and FIG. 2C is a view across word lines of the flash memory cell array 200. FIG. 2B illustrates a view along the line 201 a in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C illustrates a view along the line 201 b in FIG. 2A. Although the following description describes a VG ETOX flash memory cell array, it is understood that the embodiments of the invention described herein may also be used with a standard ETOX flash memory cell array or with other semiconductor devices.

The flash memory cell array 200 (see FIG. 2A) includes two gate stacks 202 and 204 (see FIG. 2C) formed on a silicon substrate 205. Each gate stack 202 and 204 includes a floating gate (206 and 208, respectively), and a control gate (210 and 212, respectively). The floating and control gates 206-212 are separated by an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer 214, and the floating gates 206 and 208 are separated from the substrate 206 by a tunnel oxide layer 216.

A film 218 (see FIG. 2C) is deposited across the gap between the gates 202 and 204. The film 218 may be any appropriate film, such as a silicon nitride (SiN) film, that does not form a silicide layer. The film 218 is deposited over the gate stacks 202 and 204 before the salicide layers 222 (see FIGS. 2B and 2C) are formed. The film 218 is reduced back to the tops of the gate stacks 202 and 204 using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) or other technique. The film 218 is deposited to prevent silicide from forming in the gap 224 between the gate stacks 202 and 204. The salicide 222 is a conductive material that couples to contact and vias for the stacks 202 and 204; if a silicide forms in the region between the gate stacks 202 and 204, the gate stacks 202 and 204 will short together. A dielectric layer 220 is also deposited over the gate stacks 202 and 204 to prevent shorting between the gate stacks 202 and 204.

The film 218 has a thickness sufficient so that when the film 218 is deposited, it bows across the gap between the gate stacks 202 and 204, forming a void 224. As mentioned above, the gate stacks 202 and 204 need to be able to operate independently. Since the size of flash cell arrays is becoming smaller, the likelihood of cross-coupling between the floating gates 206 and 208 of the two gate stacks 202 and 204 is greatly reduced.

The flash memory cell array 200 also includes several word lines 226, and alternating source or drain diffusions 228. The sources and drains comprise doped regions 230 of the substrate 205. A memory cell is programmed by issuing a charge down the appropriate word line 226 and diffusion/bitline 228. For example, to program the cell 232, a charge is propagated down the strap 228 a and the word line 226 b.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing a process 300 for forming a flash memory cell array including air gaps between gate stacks. FIGS. 4A-4K and 5A-5F illustrate a flash memory cell array 400 using the process 300 described in FIG. 3. FIGS. 4A-4K show the memory cell array 400 along the word line 226, as in FIG. 2B. FIGS. 5A-5F show the memory cell array 400 across the word lines, as in FIG. 2C. The discussion of the process 300 and FIG. 3 below refers to elements of FIGS. 4A-4K and FIGS. 5A-5F.

FIG. 4A illustrates a substrate 402 and several layers deposited on the substrate 402. In block 302, a tunnel oxide 404 is deposited on the substrate 402. The substrate 402 may be a single crystal silicon substrate. The tunnel oxide 404 may comprise silicon dioxide (SiO₂) or another appropriate material. The tunnel oxide 404 may be thermally grown by introducing oxygen to and heating the substrate 402. According to one embodiment, the tunnel oxide 404 is approximately 10 nanometers (nm) thick.

In block 304, a first polysilicon layer 406 is deposited over the substrate 402. The first polysilicon layer 406 will eventually form the floating gate of several memory cells. Polysilicon is a material typically used to form the gates of transistors in microelectronic devices. Polysilicon may also be deposited using CVD by introducing silane into the chamber. According to one embodiment, the first polysilicon layer 406 is approximately 500 nm thick.

A masking layer 408 is deposited over the first polysilicon layer 406 in block 306. According to one embodiment, the masking layer is approximately 130 nm thick and is an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) film that includes a silicon nitride (SiN) in between two SiO₂ layers which all may be deposited using CVD. The masking layer 408 serves two functions: it acts as a stopping layer for CMP when polishing back the self aligned oxide, and it acts as a mask during the ion implantation stage to ensure that the doped regions are only deposited in the region between the gate stacks.

FIG. 4B illustrates the substrate 402 including a patterned photoresist layer 410. The stack of layers shown in FIG. 4A may be patterned using a process known as photolithography. First, in block 308, a layer of photoresist 410 is deposited over the cell array 400. Photoresist is sensitive to light, and becomes soluble when exposed to light. Photoresist is typically applied in liquid form using spin-on deposition. A mask that includes a pattern defining the areas underneath the photoresist layer 410 that are to be removed is created. Light is shone through the mask in block 310. The exposed regions are then developed, and the exposed photoresist is removed. In FIG. 4B, the remaining photoresist 410 is located to create floating gates as well as the source/drain (S/D) regions of the flash memory cell array 400.

FIG. 4C illustrates the flash memory cell array 400 after being etched. In block 312, the array 400 is etched to remove the portions of the array 400 not covered by the photoresist 410. Etching typically includes introducing a chemical or plasma etching solution to the entire array 400. The etching solution is chosen so that is removes one material (e.g., any of the layers 404, 406, or 408) at a faster rate than another material (e.g., the photoresist layer 410). Several different etching solutions may be required to remove the different layers 404, 406, and 408. The array 400 may be etched using any standard chemical or plasma etchant, such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), etc. The photoresist 410 is removed after etching.

FIG. 4D illustrates source/drain (S/D) regions 412 of the flash memory cell array 400. In block 314, S/D regions 412 are selectively formed in the exposed portions of the substrate 402. The S/D regions 412 may be formed using ion implantation. Ion implantation typically involves bombarding the substrate 402 with high-energy ions to create impurities in the silicon of the substrate. The S/D regions 412, are, according to one embodiment, N+ type implants.

FIG. 4E illustrates an oxide 414 deposited over the memory cell array 400. The oxide 414 will form a self-aligned oxide (SAO) 416 on the S/D regions 412. The oxide is deposited over the array 400 in block 316 using CVD. In block 318, the oxide 400 is polished back to the masking layer 408. FIG. 4F illustrates a polished oxide 414. The oxide 414 may be polished using chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). CMP typically includes introducing a chemical slurry onto the structure to be polished, and polishing the structure using a rotating polishing platen. CMP planarizes the top of the flash memory cell array 400.

FIG. 4G illustrates the removal of the masking layer 408. In block 320, the ONO layer 408 is removed using an etching process or other appropriate procedure. FIG. 4H illustrates the creation of the SAO 416. In block 322, the oxide 414 is etched using a dip-back solution. The array 400 is submerged into an appropriate etching solution to remove a portion of the oxide 414. The array 400 is left in the etching solution for a period of time appropriate to reduce the oxide 414 to the desired size of the SAO 416.

In block 324, another ONO layer 418 is deposited over the array 400. FIG. 41 illustrates the ONO layer 418. In block 326, a second polysilicon layer 420 is deposited over the array 400. The ONO layer 418 and the second polysilicon layer 420 may be deposited using CVD, as described above. FIG. 4J illustrates the second polysilicon layer 420. The second polysilicon layer will eventually form the control gates of the flash memory cell array 400.

The word lines of the memory array 400 are created in blocks 328-334. In block 328, a photoresist layer 502 is deposited over the array 400. FIG. 5A illustrates the photoresist layer 502 across the word line. The photoresist layer has been deposited, exposed, and developed (as described above), using a mask to expose the areas of the various layers that are removed to define the word lines.

In block 330, the memory array 400 is etched, using an appropriate etch technology, such as a wet or plasma etch, to define the gate stacks 504 and 506. FIG. 5B illustrates the gate stacks 504 and 506. In block 332, an SiN or other dielectric layer 508 is deposited over the array 400. The layer 508 is a dielectric layer to prevent coupling between the gate stacks 504 and 506, and further comprise a material that does not form a silicide. In block 334, the layer 508 is polished back to the top of the gate stacks 504 and 506 using a CMP or other planarizing procedure, so that none of the layer 508 remains atop the gate stacks 504 and 506. FIG. 5C illustrates the deposited layer 508.

Blocks 336-340 of the process 300 describe forming a void between the gate stacks 504 and 506. In block 336, an SiN or other layer 510 is deposited over the gate stacks 504 and 506. The layer 510 is deposited using a film deposition procedure. According to one embodiment, the layer 510 does not form a silicide. Since a salicide layer is a conductive material used to form an interface for contacts and vias on top of the gate stacks 504 and 506, no silicide should be formed on the layer 508 between the gate stacks 504 and 506 to prevent shorting between the gate stacks 504 and 506. FIG. 5D illustrates a deposited layer 510.

The layer 510 should be thick enough so that it does not fall into and fill in the void 512 when it is deposited. The layer 510 should be a material that does not form a silicide, such as any material that is not silicon or polysilicon. In order to make the layer 510 bridge the gap between the gate stacks 504 and 506, the deposition conditions should be controlled. One way to control the deposition condition is to examine the aspect ratio and profile of the gate stacks 504 and 506. The thickness of the film 510 can be increased to bow the film 510.

According to one embodiment, the gate stacks 504 and 506 may have a total height of 2430 Angstroms (for example, if the first polysilicon layer 406 is 500 Angstroms thick, the ONO layer 418 is 130 Angstroms thick, and the second polysilicon layer 420 is 1800 Angstroms thick). The width of the gap between the gate stacks 504 and 506 depends on the resolution of the lithography equipment used. For example, there may be a gap of 65 nanometers (650 Angstroms) between the stacks 504 and 506. The aspect ratio (AR) of the gate stacks is the ratio between their height and the gap between the two stacks. The AR can be used to determine the appropriate thickness of the film 510, because a higher AR may require a thicker film 510 to prevent the film from filling the gap between the stacks 504 and 506. Using this example, 65 nm lithography equipment would give an AR of 4:1, while 45 nm lithography equipment would give an AR of 6:1. A typical AR value might range from 3:1 to 8:1. Using a 3:1 AR as an example, a 700 nm SiN film deposited over the gate stacks 504 and 506 would bow and produce the void 512. Other dielectric materials may require different thicknesses.

In block 338, the layer 508 is polished back to the top of the gate stacks 504 and 508. The layer 508 may be polished using CMP or another appropriate technique. FIG. 5E illustrates the layer 510 polished back to the top of the gate stacks 504 and 506. In block 340, a salicide (i.e., a self-aligned silicide) is formed on the top of the gate stacks 504 and 506 to create a contact for the gate stacks 504 and 506. FIGS. 4K and 5F illustrate a salicide 422 on the gate stacks 504 and 506. The salicide 422 is a self-aligned silicide. A silicide is formed when a metal or alloy is deposited on the array 400, which is then heated to approximately 600 to 1000° Celsius. The metal or alloy used may comprise any appropriate material such as cobalt, nickel, tantalum, etc. The salicide 422 is “self-aligned” since it will only form on the second polysilicon layer 420, and not on the layer 510, thereby aligning itself to the desired region (the top of the gate stacks 504 and 506). The salicide 422 forms contacts on the gates 504 and 506, allowing communication with the gates in the gate stacks 504 and 506.

A low-k dielectric conducts less electricity than a high-k dielectric. Air, which fills the void 512, has a dielectric constant of approximately 1, compared to SiN, which has a dielectric constant of approximately 7. Therefore, filling the void 512 with air, rather than with SiN, greatly reduces the chance of a charge on one floating gate inadvertently reprogramming an adjacent floating gate. This improves the reliability and performance of the flash memory cell array 400 without increasing its cost. As lithography improves and the distances between the gate stacks of VG ETOX (and other flash memories) is reduced, the likelihood of floating gate-floating gate coupling increases. The embodiments of the invention described herein can be used to reduce the occurrence of this coupling.

Several of the embodiments of this invention have been described using specific semiconductor processing techniques and specific semiconductor structures. It is understood that any appropriate structure or technique may be substituted in place of those described herein. For example, physical vapor deposition (PVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD) or thermal oxidation may be used in place of CVD. Further, although the embodiments describe a VG ETOX flash memory cell array, the embodiments of the invention may also be used with a standard ETOX flash memory cell array or any other semiconductor structure where they may be appropriate.

This invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident to persons having the benefit of this disclosure that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense. 

1. A flash memory cell comprising: a first gate stack formed on a substrate; a second gate stack formed on the substrate adjacent to the first gate stack; and a film formed between the first gate stack and the second gate stack, the film having sufficient thickness such that a void is formed below the film, but not within the film, and between the first gate stack and the second gate stack.
 2. The flash memory cell of claim 1, wherein the flash memory cell is a virtual ground erasable tunnel oxide (VG ETOX) flash memory cell.
 3. The flash memory cell of claim 1, wherein the film is polished back to a top of the first and second gate stacks.
 4. The flash memory cell of claim 1, wherein the film is chosen from a group consisting of nitrides and oxides.
 5. The flash memory cell of claim 1, wherein: the first gate stack comprises a first polysilicon layer, an oxide-nitride-oxide layer over the first polysilicon layer, and a second polysilicon layer over the oxide-nitride-oxide layer, or any high-K dielectric material.
 6. The flash memory cell of claim 1, wherein the film does not form a silicide.
 7. The flash memory cell of claim 1, wherein the film comprises silicon nitride (SiN).
 8. The flash memory cell of claim 1, wherein the film has a thickness of approximately 700 nanometers (nm).
 9. A flash memory cell comprising: a first gate stack on a substrate, wherein said first gate stack has a first sidewall; a second gate stack on said substrate adjacent to said first gate stack, wherein said second gate stack has a second sidewall; a first film having a first portion above said substrate, having a second portion adjacent to said first sidewall of said first gate stack and having a third portion adjacent to said second sidewall of said second gate stack; a second film between said first gate stack and said second gate stack and above said first portion of said first film; and a void directly between said first and second films, but not within said second film, and between said first and said second gate stacks.
 10. The flash memory cell of claim 9, wherein said flash memory cell is a virtual ground erasable tunnel oxide (VG ETOX) flash memory cell.
 11. The flash memory cell of claim 9, wherein said second film is chosen from a group consisting of nitrides and oxides.
 12. The flash memory cell of claim 9, wherein: said first and said second gate stacks each comprise a first polysilicon layer, an oxide-nitride-oxide layer over said first polysilicon layer, and a second polysilicon layer over said oxide-nitride-oxide layer.
 13. The flash memory cell of claim 9, wherein said second film does not form a silicide.
 14. The flash memory cell of claim 9, wherein said second film comprises silicon nitride (SiN).
 15. The flash memory cell of claim 9, wherein said second film has a thickness of approximately 700 nanometers (nm).
 16. The flash memory cell of claim 9, wherein said first film is a dielectric layer. 